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If someone was a billionaire they could hire a medical team that would devote their life and all their resources and energy to cure that person. They could network with the greatest medical minds in the world and use the most expensive drugs and equipment.

You're disregarding that the worst diseases are not amenable to being cured by having money thrown at them. Two rich people already mentioned: Steve Jobs took too long faffing around before getting his pancreatic cancer treated, true. But the chances of his surviving pancreatic cancer were mighty slim regardless. And although Stephen Hawking lived for many years with advanced ALS, nothing could improve his condition. Would you want spend years in his physical state?

Most cancers in later stages have no cure. Alzheimer's disease has no cure. Parkinson's--no cure. Lewy Body Dementia, which Robin Williams (and my mom) had--no cure. Multiple Sclerosis. And the list goes on. You get one of these diseases, your billions will not save you.

Being rich and famous also does not stop people from dying of addictions, overdoses, and suicide at a shocking rate.

Better access to health care is part of it. Another part of it is the overall values that tend to lead to wealth have a stronger overlap with the overall values that lead to healthier lifestyle decisions.

Rich do live longer but doesn't mean their health will be immeasurably better. For example Bill Gates, one of the richest man on Earth has Parkinson's disease. It's incurable and it will slowly get worse, he'll live longer and better than most but doesn't mean it will ever improve.

The rich generally live healthier lives than the poor. Top notch healthcare services and physicians is just an added bonus.

Look up the statistics, poor people on average treat their bodies like pure crap compared to any other demographics. Now obviously McDonalds is cheaper than organic grass fed burgers, but the point still stands.

The poor also engage in far more risky behavior and are exposed to it more than any other demographic. Junk food, abortions, crime, promiscuity, incarceration, teen pregnancy, high blood pressure, local violence, obesity, diabetes, personality disorders, unemployment, single parent, poverty, stress, anxiety, etc. all this is not good for your health... Oh and subpar healthcare as is the title of this thread..

You're disregarding that the worst diseases are not amenable to being cured by having money thrown at them. Two rich people already mentioned: Steve Jobs took too long faffing around before getting his pancreatic cancer treated, true. But the chances of his surviving pancreatic cancer were mighty slim regardless. And although Stephen Hawking lived for many years with advanced ALS, nothing could improve his condition. Would you want spend years in his physical state?

Most cancers in later stages have no cure. Alzheimer's disease has no cure. Parkinson's--no cure. Lewy Body Dementia, which Robin Williams (and my mom) had--no cure. Multiple Sclerosis. And the list goes on. You get one of these diseases, your billions will not save you.

Being rich and famous also does not stop people from dying of addictions, overdoses, and suicide at a shocking rate.

You're right, those diseases you listed have no cures. However, having more money can make it easier to afford some palliative treatments that make life with them easier.

"The authors acknowledge a number of potential flaws in the review. The first is that in none of these strikes did medical care cease completely ó emergency services were always made available. Whatís more, some high-risk patients may have sought care elsewhere during the work stoppages, relieving the system of cases more likely to end up dying."

Yes and no. A friend of ours died a few years ago from a massive heart attack. He was cery well off and could afford health care bills no problem. He was in his early 60ís but never had s heart screening which probably would have saved his life.

I know another person who had healthcare, but the deductible is so high she wonít go to the doctor unless absolutely necessary cause she canít afford the bill with a high deductible. Sheís 63, so almost to Medicare age, but she still works so doesnít qualify for Medicaid. Sheís hurting herself by not getting certain tests done.

And thatís whats wrong with healthcare today. People who have it still canít afford the high deductibles.

I think that sometimes the wealthy recover more easily because of better care when they are at home. They can get more rest, better nutrition, help with their medications, etc because they can afford help. They are less likely to fall and break a hip or get a concussion because they can afford assistants to help with their daily care as well as household responsibilities. They don't have to worry about or spend energy on the basics like paying bills, shopping, cooking, cleaning as they age and slow down mentally as well as physically.

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